PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey Congressman Donald Norcross has developed sepsis while battling a gallbladder infection that has kept the 66-year-old in intensive care at Cooper Hospital, according to his doctors.
Cooper's Chief Physician Executive said doctors were able to remove a gallstone, but they're still treating complications of the infection.
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection, which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death if not treated quickly. KYW Medical Editor Dr. Brian McDonough explained how quickly it can spread.
“When you become septic, you have an infection. The infection gets worse and worse,” he said. “Things happen in your body, like your heart rate goes up, respiratory rate goes up. It can cause damage to other organs in the body, like if the bacteria spreads to other organs.”
Doctors said Norcross is responding well to treatment but that he is in for an extended recovery that could include physical rehabilitation. Dr. Brian said that the process is not easy for patients dealing with sepsis.
“Well, most people, when they become septic, they get really sick. And in many cases, they can get very confused and not even know what’s going on,” he said.
However, according to Norcross's office, the congressman is in regular contact with staff members and is monitoring what's happening in Washington. His offices in New Jersey and Washington D.C. have remained open and available to constituents.
Norcross suffered a medical event in Raleigh, North Carolina, which required hospitalization before being transferred to Cooper last Monday.
He said he and his family have been moved by the outpouring of support he’s received.